Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Thirteen
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you let me meet you at the pool?
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you, ooh-ooh
Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black'
Rock and Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you, ooh-ooh
Won't you tell me what you're thinking of?
Would you be an outlaw for my love?
If it's so, well, let me know
If it's no, well, I can go
I won't make you, ooh-ooh
The song "Thirteen" by Big Star is a romantic ballad about a young boy who is infatuated with a girl and is asking her to let him into her life. He is asking for simple things at first, to walk her home from school and to meet her at the pool. As the song progresses, he starts to become bolder and asks her to go to the dance with him. He also asks her to rebel against her father’s authority and embrace Rock and Roll. He wants her to come inside where it’s okay and he will shake her.
The boy is not just asking the girl to be his girlfriend, but he is also questioning her thoughts and feelings about him. He then asks if she would be willing to go against the status quo and be an outlaw for his love. He emphasizes that he won’t force her to do anything, but if she does feel the same way, she should let him know.
The song portrays a sweet, innocent and genuine love, which is rare to find in today's music. The lyrics describe the feeling of falling in love for the first time and the excitement that comes with it. The melody is simple and soft, but it conveys the emotions of the boy who is telling the girl how much he loves her.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you let me walk you home from school?
Asking the girl if she will allow the singer to accompany her home from school
Won't you let me meet you at the pool?
Asking the girl if she would like to meet the singer at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you, ooh-ooh
Suggesting a date for Friday's dance and offering to take the girl on it
Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black'
Asking the girl to confront her father and tell him about their conversation about 'Paint It Black'
Rock and Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you, ooh-ooh
Promoting the significance and longevity of rock and roll and urging the girl to come inside and dance
Won't you tell me what you're thinking of?
Would you be an outlaw for my love?
If it's so, well, let me know
If it's no, well, I can go
I won't make you, ooh-ooh
Asking the girl what she thinks of him, questioning if she would be willing to break societal norms for him, and assuring her that he will respect her decision
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Chilton, Christopher Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind